JOH.21

Photographic series, 2020

The starting point for this body of work is from the Gospel According to John 21:15-17. In the original Greek critical edition, Jesus asks Peter ”Do you love me?” three times. The first two times he uses the form agapas me? ἀγαπᾷς με; (do you love me [unconditionally]?). Each time, Peter replies with the form philō se. φιλῶ σε. (I love you [dearly].)

The word agapē, αγάπη, means an unconditional love, the love which is like God’s love. Fileō, φιλέω means to love in a human way, a kind of sisterly love. The third time that Jesus asks, he too uses this form: phileis φιλεῖς (do you love [dearly]). 

Exhibited at Exhibition Laboratory